Hepatitis
is
inflammation
of the
liver.
Several
different
viruses
cause
viral
hepatitis.
They
are
named
the
hepatitis
A, B,
C, D,
and E
viruses.

All of
these
viruses
cause
acute,
or
short-term, viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B, C,
and D viruses can also cause chronic
hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged,
sometimes lifelong.

Other viruses may also cause hepatitis, but
they have yet to be discovered and they are
obviously rare causes of the disease.

Symptoms of viral hepatitis

Symptoms include

jaundice (yellowing of the skin and

eyes)

fatigue

abdominal pain

loss of appetite

nausea

diarrhea

vomiting

However, some people do not have
symptoms until the disease is advanced.

Hepatitis A

Disease is spread primarily through food or water contaminated
by feces from an infected person. Rarely, it
spreads through contact with infected blood.

People at Risk

International travelers; people living in areas
where hepatitis A outbreaks are common;
people who live with or have sex with an
infected person; and, during outbreaks, day
care children and employees, sexually active
gay men, and injection drug users.

Prevention

The hepatitis A vaccine; also, avoiding tap
water when traveling internationally and
practicing good hygiene and sanitation.

Treatment

Hepatitis A usually resolves on its own over
several weeks.

Hepatitis B

Disease Spread

Through contact with infected blood, through
sex with an infected person, and from mother
to child during childbirth.

People at Risk

Injection drug users, people who have sex
with an infected person, men who have sex
with men, children of immigrants from
disease-endemic areas, people who live with
an infected person, infants born to infected
mothers, health care workers, and
hemodialysis patients.

Prevention

The hepatitis B vaccine.

Treatment

Drug treatment with alpha interferon or
lamivudine.

Hepatitis C

Disease Spread

Primarily through contact with infected blood;
less commonly, through sexual contact and
childbirth.

People at Risk

Injection drug users, hemodialysis patients,
health care workers, people who have sex
with an infected person, people who have
multiple sex partners, infants born to infected
women, and people who received a
transfusion of blood or blood products before
July 1992 or clotting factors made before
1987.

Prevention

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C--the only
way to prevent the disease is to reduce the
risk of exposure to the virus. This means
avoiding behaviors like sharing drug needles
or sharing personal items like toothbrushes,
razors, and nail clippers with an infected
person.

Treatment

Drug treatment with alpha interferon or
combination treatment with interferon and the
drug ribavirin.

Hepatitis D

Disease Spread

Through contact with infected blood. This
disease occurs only in people who are already
infected with hepatitis B.

People at Risk

Anyone infected with hepatitis B. Injection
drug users who have hepatitis B have the
highest risk. People who have hepatitis B are
also at risk if they have sex with a person
infected with hepatitis D or if they live with an
infected person.

Through food or water contaminated by feces
from an infected person. This disease is
uncommon in the United States.

People at Risk

International travelers; people living in areas
where hepatitis E outbreaks are common; and
people who live or have sex with an infected
person.

Prevention

There is no vaccine for hepatitis E--the only
way to prevent the disease is to reduce the
risk of exposure to the virus. This means
avoiding tap water when traveling
internationally and practicing good hygiene
and sanitation.

Treatment

Hepatitis E usually resolves on its own over
several weeks to months.

Other Causes of Viral Hepatitis

Some cases of viral hepatitis cannot be
attributed to the hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E
viruses. This is called non A...E hepatitis or
hepatitis X. Scientists have identified several
candidate viruses, but none have been proven
to cause hepatitis. The search for the virus
responsible for hepatitis X continues.

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